The FDA approved a drug to treat the underlying cause of Alzheimer's and potentially slow its progression. But not all doctors are willing to prescribe it.

<p><em><img src="https://static2.businessinsider.com/image/60bf703893c6fa00195e5ab6-1778/GettyImages-1175270464.jpg" border="0" alt="Scientist working in lab" data-mce-source="Morsa Images/Getty Images"></em></p><bi-shortcode id="summary-shortcode" data-type="summary-shortcode" class="mceNonEditable" contenteditable="false">Summary List Placement</bi-shortcode><p><em>Hello! This story is from today's edition of Morning Brew, an awesome daily email read by 2.9 million next-generation leaders like you. Sign up <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/reviews/out'u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.morningbrew.com%2Fdaily%2Fsubscribe%3Futm_medium%3Dpartnership%26utm_source%3Dinsider">here</a> to get it!</em></p><p>Yesterday, the FDA&nbsp;<a href="https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/us-fda-set-rule-controversial-biogen-alzheimers-drug-2021-06-07/'utm_source=morning_brew" target="_blank" rel="noopener">approved</a>&nbsp;Biogen's aducanumab, the first drug to treat the underlying cause of Alzheimer's (sticky brain plaques) and potentially slow the disease's progression in early stage patients. Although far from a cure, aducanumab could mark a new era in treating the leading cause of dementia and the sixth leading cause of death in the US.</p><h2>Not all doctors are ready to prescribe</h2><p>Biogen had shelved the drug in early 2019, then surprised the medical community by breaking it back out that October. Last November, an expert panel advised the FDA&nbsp;<em>not</em>&nbsp;to approve aducanumab after a pair of studies showed conflicting results about its effectiveness.&nbsp;</p><p>But the agency&nbsp;<a href="https://www.npr.org/2021/06/07/1003964235/fda-approves-controversial-alzheimers-drug-aducanumab'utm_source=morning_brew" target="_blank" rel="noopener">fast-tracked</a>&nbsp;it, arguing that the benefits of slowing Alzheimer's outweigh the risks. Since aducanumab's clinical effectiveness isn't certain, Biogen still has to conduct post-approval trials, but some health experts worry the FDA made the wrong decision.</p><p><strong>Big picture:</strong>&nbsp;It's easier to crack the TikTok algorithm than it is to treat Alzheimer's. A string of failures led many pharma companies to give up, though some analysts think Biogen's breakthrough could renew interest, Reuters reports. There's certainly money to be made: Biogen says the treatment, which will be sold under the name "Aduhelm," will cost $56,000 a year.</p><p><em>This story is from today's edition of Morning Brew, a daily email. Sign up <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/reviews/out'u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.morningbrew.com%2Fdaily%2Fsubscribe%3Futm_medium%3Dpartnership%26utm_source%3Dinsider">here</a> to get it!</em></p><p><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/fda-approved-biogens-aducanumab-to-treat-underlying-cause-of-alzheimers-2021-6#comments">Join the conversation about this story &#187;</a></p> <p>NOW WATCH: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/how-long-human-survive-outer-space-without-spacesuit-2017-5">How long humans could survive in space without a spacesuit</a></p>
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